Diwali
- Maya Z.
- Oct 25, 2024
- 2 min read
October is coming to an end! Along with Halloween, we have Diwali to look forward to next week! This year, Diwali falls on the same day as Halloween. Diwali, or Deepawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. It is also known as the festival of lights! This festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Celebrations for Diwali can be an entire five days long. So get ready for the festivities!
What is Diwali?
Diwali is one of India's most significant festivals of the year. The name has come from a row(avali) of clay lamps(deepa) that Indians light outside of their houses, representing the inner light which protects people safe from spiritual darkness.
Three Fascinating Facts on Diwali:
The Festival Occurs on a No-Moon Night!
Diwali takes place in the Hindu calendar month of Karthik and is celebrated on Amavasya(moonless night). In order to enjoy this festival of lights, people light firecrackers and decorate their homes with lights on walls and entrances.
It Includes the Festival of Annakut!
Annakut is celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali which is the first day of the new year, according to the Hindu calendar. It is a day of expressing gratitude for Krishna’s beneficence by presenting mounds of food in the shape of Govardhan mountain.
Plenty of Fireworks and Lights!
Firecrackers and decorating with lamps and candles are essential to the celebration. In recent years, electrical lighting decorations have become one of the ways to create elaborate displays.
So how is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali is celebrated over five days:
Day 1: People clean their house and buy gold or kitchen utensils to attract good fortune
Day 2: People adorn their homes with clay lamps and create rangoli designs on the floor using colored powders or sand
Day 3: On the festival’s main day, families come together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by delicious feasts and fireworks
Day 4: This marks the first day of the new year, when friends and relatives visit to exchange gifts and best wishes for the season.
Day 5: Brothers visit their married sisters, who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.
Bibliography:
"Diwali—Festival of Lights." Pages, 23 Oct. 2014, kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"5 Amazing Facts About Diwali." Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/story/5-amazing-facts-about-diwali/pgXxYajfen0Wuw?hl=en. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
"Diwali 2024: Creative Activities for Kids to Enjoy During This Vacation." India Today, 23 Oct. 2024, www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/diwali-2024-creative-activities-for-kids-to-enjoy-during-this-vacation-2621723-2024-10-23. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
